What A Ride!

 Lynn and I have been doing some bike riding this summer. We started by purchasing a very nice trailer hitch bike rack. As the time has progressed we have been doing longer and longer trips on our bikes. 

The trail system in the greater Des Moines area is incredible! We've ridden on the Clive Greenbelt Trail, Great Western & Bill Riley Bike Trail, High Trestle Trail, Jordan Creek Trail, Great Western Trail (In Part), all through the Water Works & Grey's Lake area, But today was the biggest one of all!

We set out from near the Des Moines Botanical Center on Robert D. Ray Drive and headed north. Our goal was to reach the Saylorville Dam area. We ended up just south of the Dam Visitors Center ... By the way, "if you have any Dam questions, ask your Dam tour guide!" (If you know ... you know!) We needed to make a restroom stop which required a stop at the Bob Shelter Campground, with that out of the way we set off for the return trip. 

Overall, it was a great trip ... here are the stats: Total Time: 2:26:50; Distance: 23.58 miles; Elevation Gain: 296 feet; Average Speed 9.6 MPH.

Not too bad for a guy two years out from a stroke and a gal one year out from open hearty surgery! 

What next??? Lynn and I are putting together a ride from somewhere north of the Des Moines area and ending in Martinsdale, Iowa. This will involve a number of difference trails but will focus on the Great Western Trail that runs from Water Works Park and ends in Martinsdale. We shall see ...

I Remain, Pastor Steve

Here are some pictures:

Stock photo of our bike carrier

Our Bikes on our carrier

Stock photo of trail

Stock Photo of our turn around point

Bob Shelter Campground ... Stopped for a "Break"

Great Western Trail ... Our Next Long Ride?????

Central Iowa Bike Trails

One of the really cool opportunities that Lynn and I have been taking advantage of now that we’re living in the Des Moines area is the plethora of bike trails. 

One of the very first rides we took was a quick trip from Madrid Ia. to the High Trestle trial/bridge. not the longest trip in the world but we really enjoyed getting out on this trail. The view from the bridge were incredible and the distance covered was just about perfect that morning. Here are a couple of stock photos: 

Day time look ...

Night time look ...

That same day we ventured down to the Greenwood - Ashworth Park trail head where we set out to reach the Bill Riley Trail through the Des Moines Water Works Park on to Grey’s Lake Park and back. More stock photos: 

Greenwood - Ashworth Park Trailhead ...

Bill Riley Trail ...

Foot Bridge Connecting WaterWorks Park and Grey’s Lake ...

Grey’s Lake Park ...

More rides to Come!

I Remain, 

Pastor Steve

Transitions ...

                        

One thing we know is that life is constantly changing! Transitions are always happening. 

On October 24, 2021 I resigned my ministry in Oskaloosa and have been on a whirlwind adventure ever since!

We moved from Osky at the end of December and moved in with my daughter and her husband for a total of 4 months. We were able to find a condo on the Southside of Des Moines which seems to fit us well.

We are members at Soteria Church in WDM and are getting involved in the ministry there. We are working in Ankeny (Lynn and I both at the same business). We really enjoy our time together driving to and from our work. 

Some have asked “what does the future look like for us?’ honestly, we’re not sure yet, waiting on the Lord for direction. Not saying no but seeking to discern the will of God!

More to come!

I Remain, 

Pastor Steve